Slow Cooker Beef Stew

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Slow Cooker Beef Stew – a savory, hearty bowl of beef stew slowly cooked to perfection with the aroma from onion, ginger, fresh thyme and smoked paprika and some vegetable add ons of potatoes, carrots and peas. A perfect winter season comfort food!

This is the season of the year where I get to dust off and used too often my reliable slow cooker. But honestly, even if there’s a heat wave in LA, I would still prepare slow cooker recipes to serve for dinner. 

Stews are  no doubt a winning weeknight meal no matter what season it is. Good thing I have a slow cooker to cook it slow and tender and make dinner while I do other things.

I can still run some errands, clean the house or work on my blog while I wait. See the convenience of modern appliances? It’s a time-saver!

This Slow Cooker Beef Stew here is browned first in a hot skillet to obtain best results, then added with some aromatics: onions, ginger, garlic, thyme, smoked paprika, and bay leaf before throwing it all in the slow cooker.

For an ultimate flavorful and tender chunky beef, cook it on high for about 3-4 hours or low for 6-7 hours.

The long wait is definitely worth it! You would gladly chow down on this straight from the pot. 😉 Plus, you get to enjoy some healthy add-ons like potatoes, carrots and peas, too.

Serve it with a crusty bread or white rice to load up your body especially this winter season. Yes, it’s a reasonable thing to do during this season. Happy eating! 😉

Tips and Notes:

1. I highly suggest that you don’t skip the searing part since this brings out a better tasting beef cut with a good crust on all sides.
2. When choosing the potatoes to use, go with Yukon potatoes as they are buttery and won’t easily fall apart when cooked longer.
3. You may opt to use crushed or diced tomatoes, however, the concentration of flavors from the tomato paste brings so much more to this beef stew.
4. If you want to thicken up the consistency of the stew, you can mix equal parts of flour and butter together and add it to the last hour of cooking. Or you can simply mashed 3-4 chunks of potatoes and mix it well into the stew as a thickener.
5. To store this stew, refrigerate it in a shallow container and let it cool down first. Then cover it tightly and refrigerate for up to 2-3 days.

 

5 from 3 votes

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Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

6 hrs 20 mins

Total Time

6 hrs 30 mins

 

Slow Cooker Beef Stew - a savory, hearty bowl of beef stew slowly cooked to perfection with the aroma from onion, ginger, fresh thyme and smoked paprika and some vegetable add-ons of potatoes, carrots and peas. A perfect winter season comfort food!

Course: Main

Cuisine: American

Servings: 4 - 5 people

Calories: 682 kcal

Author: Immaculate Bites

Ingredients

• 2 pounds (0.91 kg) stew beef cut in small chunks
• ¼ cup (60 ml) canola oil
• 1 medium onion diced
• ½ teaspoon (1 g) minced ginger
• 1 tablespoon (2.80 g) minced garlic
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tablespoons (32.76 g) tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon Bouillon powder Beef Chicken or vegetable adjust to taste (optional)
• 1 tablespoon (0.80 g) fresh thyme
• 1 teaspoon (2.1 g) smoked paprika
• 2 cups (470 ml) broth/water or more
• 2-3 Green Onions, diced
• 1-2 pounds (500 g-1 kl) potatoes cut in large chunks
• 2-3 Large carrots cut in large chunks
• 8-10 ounce Mushrooms
• 1 cup (150 g) peas
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2-3 tablespoons (7.6 g-11.4 g) parsley (optional)

Instructions

1. Season stew beef with salt and pepper to thoroughly cover all sides
   

2. Heat the oil an oven safe Dutch oven pan over medium heat. Add stew beef and brown well, turning once, about 2 -3 minutes per side, until beef browns up. Do not overcrowd pan. Cook in batches, if necessary.
   

3. Add onions, ginger, garlic, thyme, smoked paprika, and bay leaf to the skillet. Stir for about 2-3 minutes until onions is translucent.
   

4. Add tomato paste and bouillon. Stir for another minute,, then add water or broth to the skillet scrape all sides, Bring to a boil , remove and and pour in the slow cooker.
   

5. Then throw in carrots, potatoes, mushrooms  and peas in the slow cooker and salt according to preference.
   

6. Cover and cook on high for about 3-4 hours or low for 6 -7 hours.
   

7. Remove, garnish with parsley and serve with bread.
   

 

Season stew beef with salt and pepper to thoroughly cover all sides. Heat the oil an oven safe Dutch oven pan over medium heat. Add stew beef and brown well, turning once, about 2 -3 minutes per side, until beef browns up. Do not overcrowd pan. Cook in batches, if necessary. 

Add onions, ginger, garlic, thyme, smoked paprika, and bay leaf to the skillet. 

Stir for about 2-3 minutes until onions is translucent. Add tomato paste and bouillon. Stir for another minute, then add water or broth to the skillet scrape all sides, Bring to a boil, remove and and pour in the slow cooker.

Then throw in carrots, potatoes and peas in the slow cooker and salt according to preference. Cover and cook on high for about 3-4 hours or low for 6 -7 hours. Remove, garnish with parsley and serve with bread.